Docking iron



Feb. 5, 1957 A. E. HELBLING 2,780,713

DOCKING IRON Filed Feb. 9, 1955 Fig.

Anfonf. He/b/mg INVENTOR.

DOCKING IRON Anton E. Helbling, Mandan, N. Dak. Application February 9, 1955, Serial No. 487,148

2 Claims. (Cl. 219-29) This invention generally relates to a docking iron and more specifically provides a device for severing animal tails in an easy and humane manner.

An object of this invention is to provide a compact docking iron for severing animals tails and specifically useful in docking lambs tails or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a docking iron that is extremely compact in structure and easy to use whereby an electrically heated member having a generally sharpened edge is provided for severing a portion of the animals tail and at the same time singeing or searing the end of the remainder.

These together with other objects and advantages which Will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:-

Figure l is a perspective view of the docking iron of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view showing the construction of the curved feeding plate and the curved member for cooperation therewith; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the plane passing along section line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the construction of the axial coil spring for returning the curved member and the handle cooperation thereof to a position remote from the heated plate.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, it will be seen that the numeral generally designates the docking iron of the present invention including an elongated cylindrical body member 12 having a closure cap 14 at the rear end thereof and secured thereto by screw fasteners 16 together with an electrical conduit or cord 18 extending from the end thereof and terminating in a male plug 20 for insertion in any female outlet for providing electrical power to the docking iron of the present invention.

At the other end of the elongated body member 12 is a cap 22 having a continuous electric heating unit generally designated by the numeral 24 extending therefrom and including two spaced parallel portions 26 and 28 carrying wires thereto and which terminate in perpendicularly upstanding portions 30 and 32 which are interconnected by an integral laterally oflset loop portion 34. The entire loop portion and a portion of the upstanding portions 30 and 32 are covered by or embedded in a plate 36 of substantially right angular construction and having a curved and sharpened peripheral edge 38 formed by two beveled surfaces joining at the sharpened edge, as indicated by the numeral 40. When the electrical plug 20 is connected to a suitable source of electricity, the heating unit 24 will heat the heating plate 36 to the desired temperature whereby the entire area of the heating plate will be heated for engaging and severing an animals tail.

2,780,713 iatented Feb. 5, 1957 Attached to one side of the body member 12 adjacent the heating unit 24 is an elongated U-shaped bracket 42 attached thereto by screw fasteners 44 and including outwardly projecting legs 46 provided with aligned apertures 48 for rotatably receiving an elongated rod member 50. One end of the rod member 50 is provided with a laterally olfset curved plate 52 which is in the form of a handle for pivoting the rod 50. The handle 52 generally is curved in conformance with the contour of the body member 12 for movement toward and away from the body 12 by gripping the body 12 and the handle 52 by a single band. The outer end of the rod 50 remote from the handle 52 is provided with a laterally extending and arcuately curved member 54 which is generally perpendicular to the rod member 50 and is curved in general conformance with the peripheral edge 38 of the plate 36 wherein the curved member 54 will closely engage the sharpened periphery 38 of the plate 36 when it is moved to the position illustrated in Figure 2.

The rod 50 is provided with a transverse bore 56 for receiving a diametric extension 58 of an axial coil spring 60 having a tangential offset portion 62 terminating in a longitudinal extension 64 for positioning in an aperture 66 in the rearmost leg 46 of the U-shaped member 42 whereby the rod 50 will be rotated in one direction so that the handle 52 will be normally disposed remote from the body member 12 and the curved member 54 will be disposed remote from the plate 36 whereby to receive an animals tail such as a lambs tail between the edge 38 and the curved member 54 wherein by movement of the handle 52 toward the body member 12, the curved member 54 will be urged toward the severing edge 38 thereby severing or docking the lambs tail and at the same time singeing or searing the end of the remainder of the tail, thereby eliminating the possibility and danger of infection.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A docking iron comprising an elongated handle, an electric heating unit mounted at one end of said handle, said heating unit including a heating plate disposed in perpendicular relation to the handle and pro vided with a curved peripheral edge, and a rod having a perpendicular portion curved to conform to the contour of the edge of the heating plate, said rod being pivotally mounted alongside the elongated handle in normally spaced relation for moving the curved portion of the rod toward the edge of the heating plate for severing the tail of an animal disposed between the curved edge of the heating plate and the curved portion of the rod by burning through the tail.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein spring means is provided for urging the elongated handle and the handle member away from each other and said curved edge of the heating plate is generally sharpened.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,456,639 Lagier May 29, 1923 1,497,975 Flick et al. June 17, 1924 2,032,688 Dart Mar. 3, 1936 

